Ryu, Ramsay Headed for May Runoff

The May 19 runoff in Los Angeles’ 4th Council District will be between Carolyn Ramsay, chief of staff to City Councilmember Tom LaBonge, and David Ryu, director of development and public affairs at Kedren Acute Psychiatric Hospital and Community Health Center.

David Ryu (left) with Rep. Mike Honda (D-Santa Clara).

The final results of the March 3 primary election, approved by the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, showed Ramsay in first place with 3,719 votes (15.25 percent) and Ryu in second with 3,634 (14.9 percent). Tomas O’Grady, director of EnrichLA, was third with 3,427 (14.05 percent).

The three were the top vote-getters among 14 candidates in the primary. Until all votes were counted, it was unclear whether Ryu or O’Grady would make the runoff.

The winner will succeed LaBonge, who is termed out. The district includes San Fernando Valley, Griffith Park, the Miracle Mile, and Hollywood.

Ramsay, who took a leave of absence from her job to run for office, has been a member of LaBonge’s staff for about nine years, and was previously a journalist and environmental activist.

If elected, Ryu, a Korean American and a native Angeleno, would be only the second Asian American to serve on the City Council. The first was Michael Woo, who represented the 13th District from 1985 to 1993.

“Now that all the votes have been counted, I am excited to officially continue our fight to put CD4 neighborhoods first at City Hall,” Ryu said in a statement. “I am grateful for the broad-based support I have received from voters in every corner of the district and we will continue to run our campaign in the general just as we have in the primary — knocking on doors, listening to residents, and working on solutions to improve our community.

“I am especially thankful for the tireless work of our volunteers and supporters, as we couldn’t have made it this far without their energy and commitment.”

Instagram

ABOUT RAFU SHIMPO

The Rafu Shimpo has been the nation's leading Japanese American newspaper since its original publication. We are proud to have served the Japanese American community from our Little Tokyo office in Downtown Los Angeles since 1903.